You finally selected a moving company. You got an estimate and feel happy about the price that fits your budget. When moving day arrives, a crew shows up at your house, then you start to realize that the move will take longer than expected which increases your final bill. No one likes unexpected charges and fees, so how can you avoid them on moving day?
A moving estimate is based on the volume of the job which can be defined by number of the bedrooms and the distance between the locations. A moving company can give you a quote over the phone, but that won’t guarantee the final cost of the move. You will get a price range for the total move, or you will get an hourly rate. It’s not always possible to estimate your move accurately without seeing the house. However, there are ways of avoiding unexpected surprises on moving day by following these simple rules:
Make an inventory list. Prepare a list of all the items you are planning to move. It’s time consuming but worth it. The better organized you are, the fewer unexpected surprises you will get on moving day. We offer our customers the option of selecting inventory on the account page. Another option is to send us a list of the items via email or text message.
Take pictures of your inventory. Regardless of the size of your move, we strongly recommend sending images of your inventory, so we will be able to estimate your move more accurately. We can recognize extra heavy items that are extremely important to know about ahead of time. Extra heavy items are considered those over 300 Lbs. Typical extra bulky and heavy items are: pianos, treadmills, elliptical machines and other large exercise equipment, oak hutches, etc.
Get an in-home estimate. If you have 3 or more bedrooms, ask for an on-site estimate. We provide a free in-home estimate in the Greater Seattle and Tacoma areas. Our estimator will be able to walk through your inventory and offer the most cost-effective solution for your move. If the house is 3000 sq ft or more, it may require more than one truck, depending on the distance between the origin and destination. In some cases, it would be less expensive to make two trips, in others it would be better to have a bigger crew and load two trucks. Getting an in-home estimate can help you and us finalize those types of details before the day of the move.
Tell your movers about elevators or stairs. It is important to mention details such as elevators or stairs if they are involved in the upcoming move. Unfortunately, elevators make the move longer as it takes time to load, go down, and go back to the floor. It is very important to reserve the elevator prior to moving day. Otherwise, movers might have to use the stairs which will cause your move to take longer.
Be aware of your driveway or parking situation. Be aware of the condition of your driveway. If it is steep, please let us know, so we can provide the right truck for the job. Big trucks are typically not recommended for steep driveways. If you live downtown, it is your responsibility to reserve a parking slot for a moving truck. If you don’t do this on time, the truck might have to park farther away lengthening the moving time or get a parking ticket that you will be obliged to pay.
To conclude, give as many details as possible to your representative. The more we know about your move, the more accurate the estimate will be. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to write us at: info@twomenandamovingvan.com.
~ Two Men And A Moving Van
